Spurgos (Lithuanian Curd Cheese Doughnuts)
In short: Soft little doughnuts made with curd cheese, eggs and flour, fried until golden and dusted with powdered sugar, best eaten warm. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 280 kcal
Spurgos are Lithuanian doughnuts, and the most popular version uses curd cheese in the dough. The cheese keeps the inside tender and slightly tangy, so the doughnuts taste lighter than yeast ones. They are quick to make, with no rising time, and they are traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday, though they appear on family tables all year. Dust them with powdered sugar and eat them while still warm.
Instructions
- Beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt for 2 minutes, until pale. Mash the curd cheese until smooth and stir it in, with the rum if using.
- Mix the flour and baking powder and fold them into the cheese mixture to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. Rest for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a heavy pot to 170°C (340°F), so it is about 5 cm (2 in) deep.
- With oiled hands or two spoons, shape the dough into walnut-sized balls of about 25 g (1 oz). Fry 6 at a time, turning them often, for 4 to 5 minutes, until deep golden and cooked through.
- Drain on paper towels, dust with the powdered sugar and serve warm.
Tips
- Drain wet curd cheese in a sieve for 30 minutes first. Wet cheese makes a loose dough that soaks up oil.
- Fry one test doughnut first. If it browns too fast and the center is raw, lower the heat and make the balls smaller.
Questions and answers
Can I use ricotta instead of curd cheese?
Yes, if it is well drained. Quark, farmer's cheese and dry cottage cheese pressed through a sieve also work.
Can I bake spurgos instead of frying them?
You can bake the balls at 190°C (375°F) for 18 to 20 minutes, but they come out more like soft cookies than doughnuts.
How do I store leftover spurgos?
They are best the same day. Keep leftovers covered for up to 2 days and warm them in a 170°C (340°F) oven for 5 minutes.
How long does it take to make Spurgos (Lithuanian Curd Cheese Doughnuts)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Spurgos (Lithuanian Curd Cheese Doughnuts)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 40 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
